Tracklaying wheel



TRACKLAY I NG WHEEL Filed May 8, 1933 film L! Ylill llll @KWM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATE-NTOFFIQE 1,987,314 TRACKLAYINGWHEEL Harrison M. Turner, Kansas City, Mo. Application May s, 193s, serialH No. ,669,922

4 Claims.

This invention relatesto wheels for vehicles of any type where road or traveling conditions require that the rim ofv the, wheel or outer annular rolling surface thereof be kept on a substantially planar track which rests upon the road surface that would normally allow sinking of rthe wheel rim to such an extent that a vast amount of excessive power would be required to drive the vehicle were the track presenting the planar surface not present.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a vehicle wheel having a series of independent tread plates arranged at the rim thereof in such a manner that a track is laid for the wheel as the same is rotated about its axis, such track consisting of one or more of the tread plates which rockingly engage theouter annular periphery of the wheel rim in such a manner that a smooth rolling surface is always presented immediately in front of the tread plate disposed on the true vertical axis of the wheel between the wheel rim and the road surface.

Another object of this invention is the contemplation of a track laying Wheel having a series of tread plate units carried thereby, the tread plates of adjoining units being overlapped and held against the outer annular periphery of the wheel rim by radially extending stems having a novel adjusting means associated therewith and unique interconnecting structure for securing together the parts of the unit.

Minor objects of the invention including details of structure and points of advantage will appear during the course of the following specication, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a track laying wheel made to embody the concepts of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, edge elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through one of the tread plate units, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation showing tread plates in another position.

While a wheel of one type is shown to illustrate the invention, it is understood that any other type of wheel might be provided with parts made in accordance with this invention. In the 50 instance illustrated, wheel 6 has an outer rim 8 and a hub 10 which is disposed at the axis of annular rim 8. Spokes 12 join hub and rim 10 and 8 respectively and an intermediate inner ring 14 is placed upon spokes 12 between hub 10 and rim 8. Spokes 12 and rim and ring 8 and 14 respectively are assembled in a` fashion shown in Fig. 3. n The wheel structure `justf'described is common and well known in the art, and it is with such structure that tliemore important elements making up'the invention" are associated.

A large numberforseries of tread plates 16 having cleats 18 formed on one face-thereof and inturned flanges `20 along' each longitudinal edge respectively thereof is Dplaced in end-t'o-end" relation around the-outer annular face of rim 8. Each tread plate 16 is liiatV orV planar and the ends thereof are formed to presentcentral and outer tongues 22 and -24 respectively,vwhereby the adjoining tread plates overlap. v4The distance between flanges 20 Ais-substantiallyA the same as rim 8 and these fiangesdiverge as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Throughfthe use of such structure, lateral relative movement between tread plate 16 and rim 8 is precluded, yet the rocking movement so necessary'is permitted." These flanges not only serve as guide walls, but likewise guard against the introduction-of'foreign matter between the inner flat-face of tread plate 16 and rima. f

Each tread'plate 16 isb'yieldably maintained against the outer face of'rim 8 by a stem 26 which extendsV through an opening 28 in rim 8 and a hole in ring '14." These openings 28 and 30 form journals for stem 26 which permits longitudinal movementthereof, and since stem 26 is disposedradially as shown: in Fig. 1, it is obvious that this movement will also be a radial movement. Y .i 1

One end of rstem 26'is pivotally secured to tread plate 16 through the medium of a pin 32 which passes through opposed openings in the walls of housing 34. This housing 34 isformed so that it will serve asvone ofthefcle'ats 18: to the extent that it will sink into the earth as the wheel travels. 'Ihe other end of stem 26 is provided with means for adjustably tensioning a spring 36 that is coiled about stem 26. In this instance the means is simply a nut 38 in screw-threaded engagement with the threads 40 formed on that end of stem 25. A washer 42 may be used if desired and when the units are assembled, spring 36 is disposed between ring 14 and washer and nut 42 and 38 respectively.

The connection between stem 26 and plate 16 is substantially central between the ends of plate 16 and when the plates are not forced between the surfaces of the rod and rim 8, all of the plates are held in the position clearly shown in Fig. 1. A rocking motion may be imparted to all of these plates and when one or the other of the ends thereof approach rim 8, spring 36 is compressed and stem 26 moved outwardly.

The overlapping arrangement shown so clearly in Fig. 2 may be altered if desired, but this form embodies the requirement of the invention to the extent that a portion of one of the tread plates 16 will move in front of the end of the next adjoining plate to take the rod as the plate in front is pressed down to a substantially horizontal position, on atany rate, intoja planej the sameas the lowerm'ost" end next adioi'nin-ltreadnpate 16. There is a clearance between tongue 22 and tongues 24 which is great enough to allow neces-g sary lateral movement to the extent permittedhby*l ilanges 20, yet no striking at this point "takes/ (j 23. .,hcornprisingr arr-substantially planar tread plate, a

Track laying wheels made in accordance with this invention will travel around 'sharpfcurve'sl place. f'

and smooth out exceptionally 1'oughf ,or.. E sort ground in a most efficient manner. Any lateral4 tiltingy of `the wheel from, the normal-vertical plane'willlikewlse be allowed-when treadplates 16 are Aon the roadsurfacefbecause -springs will beJ further y compressed in event any tilting becomes necessary.- Obviously, suicientrfree.-

dom betweenstem 26;-andtopenings 28 and 30 is provided.. It is notablek that-theV plurality of platesar.- ranged around the rim-of wheel. 6 are; Sachin.- dependent ofy anyothers andyno interconnection other thanthe wheel rim a'itselfis: used.R e placing of a broken platecould be gquicklyac,- complished' bysmply removing nut/'38,: and sliding the entire assembly out.yof position.; No endless tracks or objectionable;:linksv must;..be handled as Ihas Aheretofore been .thezfcase. Itis desirable to construct tread plates .16 of cast or forged metal and to make, the `otherparts of the tread plate unitoi strong-durable material which will withstandexcessive strains.v f This invention, however; -does not limit the track laying wheel',Y to any vparticular specic structural material .ordetail and-anylfchanges or modifications as might fairly fall within .the

spirit of the inventionor'scope of the'appended,

Having thus described jthefinvention, vwhat is claimed as new anddesiredto be securedyby Letters Patent'is: f

l.. A track-layingfwheel: vcomprisingan aninular continuous 4outer rim; ansinnerfringinter;- mediate the axis of Ithe-wheelandl said .outer rim; and a plurality of tread plate units-.arranged around the rim of said wheel, each :of said units comprising a substantially planar tread plate, a stern pivotally secured to the treadplate intermediate the ends oftthe latter and extending radially of the wheelthrouglr appropriate openings formed through the said outer rim and inner ring, screwthreads formed on the inner end of said stem, an adjusting member in screwthreaded engagement with the threaded end of said stem and a spring coiled about said stem and interposed between the adjusting member and inner ring, said outer rim and inner ring being relatively rigidand said spring and adjusting member being between the said inner ring and the axisqofthewheel'., f 'f L2. .Inv-a track-laying Wheel having an annular continuous outer rim; and an inner ring inter- ;mediate the axis of the wheel and said outer rim;A a;v plurality of tread plate units arranged around the rim of said wheel, each of said units stem pivotally secured to the tread plate interme'diate the-'ends' of the latter and extending radiallypf the wheel through appropriate openings formed through the said outer rim and inner ring, screwthreads' formed .on the inner end of said stem, an adjusting member in screwthreadedaengagementswith the. threaded end of said stem and afspring coiled about said stemfand interposed between the adjusting member and in- 'ner-:ringysaid stem` being pivotally joined to said tread plate ata y'point spaced outwardly 'from its outer planar race. Y Y

. '13.;A- track-laying f wheely comprising an annular continuous face;`fa"series of independent,I

fplanar tread lplates' disposed *against said face inlend-to-en'd relation; and yieldable meansto maintain each of said plates respectively against .the saidffacev comprisingA a radially extending lformed 'on .the outer face of each plate respectively;.a stem` extending radially inwardly from each plate; and means exerting yielding inward npressureon each stem respectively; one of the cleatsfofeach'treadplate being hollow and having'a cross :pin extending therethrough, one end ofsaid-A stem' beingV -pivotally 4engaged by said cross pin Within the said hollow cleat.-

- HARRISON M. TURNER. 

